Full Weight Bearing Today!
Hi all. Just had my ~4.5 weeks post-surgery appt with the doc and he has cleared me for FWB boot walking. Wow - what an awesome feeling to be able to toddle around the house with use of both hands. Still have 2 heel lifts in the boot so it’s a bit of an odd feeling. Borrowed a friend’s “evenup” lift for my other shoe (the good foot) so I’m more balanced. Next appointment in another 4 weeks. I’m tempted to try to walk a few miles, but I think it’s best to start slowly and build up over time.
Good luck everyone!
Paul
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Congratulations on FWB! Happy for you and can’t wait until I get in a boot : D. Interested to hear about how it is after walking your 1st mile. Do go slow, I wish you all the best with the rest of your journey!
I still dont walk a mile after 6 months, but I never did before anyway!
However, I did short walks at first, and I was discouraged by a limp for the first 5 months or so, however, I could walk without pain, and the limp goes away slowly. You have to develop ‘pushup’ strength with your foot, and walking in pools helped me the most I think.
I was a very slow walker at first. Just one foot forward a half step. Then bring the other foot to the same position, and repeat. It is amazing how fast people normally walk! But in time you should be ok.
Thanks Fred. I have found that tightening the boot straps and filling the air bladder around the heel really helps provide stability and I’m now able to walk relatively well. I went to the gym yesterday and had a full workout (mostly upper body) including ~20 minutes on a stationary bike which was great! No pain whatsoever today so I’m going to slowly increase my walking distance over the next coupla days with a goal of making it around a nearby park loop by this weekend (loop = 0.75 miles).
Doc didn’t want me walking in a pool just yet.
Best Regards
Paul
Just a quick followup: I went for a boot walk around the nearby 0.75 mile park loop with my wife yesterday (5 weeks post surgery). I stopped a few times along the way to rest, but had no problem making it all the way around. I’ve been walking in the boot for the past 6 days and it has gotten progressively easier with each passing day.
I also plan to start back up with my gym workouts tomorrow. I worked out once last week and was so happy to be back that i probably overdid it a bit - my arms/shoulders were pretty sore for a couple days afterward but i’m ready for more now!